Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-03-10

fallen into conversation with this man. who
held some small command among the native
auxiliaries, and he had expressed to me
his doubts of the safety of the camp At
the time l told him to hold his tongue, and
leave such matters to wiser heads: but after
ward | thought of his words
Il remember" | said; what is it you
wantv'
1T is this, .MacumaZahn' (that is nv Ka-
fir name, and means the man who get, up in
tie middle of the night, or, in vulgar En-
glish. he who keeps his eyes open) [ hear
that You go on a great expedition far into
the north with the white chiefs from over
the water. Is it a true word?'
1T is"
Il hear that you even go to Lukan-a
River, a moons journey beyond the Mmica
country. Is this SO also, 'Macumazahn'?''
why do you ask whittier we gog What
is it 20 theeg' [ answered, SuSpiciously, for
the objects OF our journey had been kept a
dead secret.
lit is this, white men! that if indeed
YOU travel SO far would travel with YOU"
There was a certain assumption of dignity
i'm the mans mode Of speech, and especially
in his use of the words 20 white menu in
stead of 20 lnkosis' (chiefs), which struck
me.
You forget yourself a little" l said.
ssYour words come out unawares. That is
not the way to speak. What is your name,
and where is your kraal? Tell u.s. that we
| may know with whom we have to DEAL"
ssMy name is Umbopa. am of the Zulu
| people, yet not of them. The house of my
| tribe is in the far north; it was left behind
when the Zulus came down here thousand
years ago. long before Chaka reigned in
Zuluand. l have no kraal. l have wan
| dered for many years. l came from the
| north as child to Zululand. / was Getty
| wayos man in the Nkomabakosi Regiment
[ ran away from Zululand and came to Ma
tai because wanted to see the white mans
ways. Then [ served against Cetywayo in
the war. Since then l have been working
in Natal. Now l am tired, and would 60
north again. Here is not my place. l want
no money, but am a brave man, and am
worth my place and meat. / have spoken"
was rather puzzled at this man and his
way Of speech. 1t was evident to me from
his manner that he was in the main telling
the truth, but he was somehow different
from the ordinary run of Zulus, and 1 rather
mistrn63ed his offer to come without pay
Being IN difficulty, translated his words
to Sir Henry and Good, and asked them
their opinion. Sir Henry told me to ask
him to stand up. Umbopa did so, at tho
same time slipping off the long military
great coat he wore, and revealing himself
naked except for the moacha round his CEN
ter and necklace of lions claws. He GER
tainly was a Misunderstanding man, [
never saw finer native. Standing about
six feet three high, he was broad in proper
ton, and very shapely. In that light too,
his skin looked scarcely more than dark, ex-
cept here and there where deep black scars
marked old assegai wounds. Sir Henry
walked up to him and looked into his proud
handsome face
''They make a good pair, don't they?'
said Good; zone as big as the other"
81 like your looks, Mr. Umbopa, and [
will take you as my servant" said Sir Hem
ry in English
Umbopa evidently understood HIM, for he
answered in Zulu, sit is WE'LL" and then
with glance at the white mans great
stature and breadth, 1--WE are men, you and
I.''